Guest Conductor, Composer

James Curnow received his training at Wayne State University in Detroit
(B.S.) and Michigan State University in East Lansing (M. M.),
where he was a conducting student of Dr. Harry Begian and a euphonium student
of Leonard Falcone.
He taught on the secondary school and college level for 20 years
before retiring to devote full time to composition.
He received the “Outstanding Educator of America” award in 1974,
and the National Band Association “Citation of Excellence”
in 1980.

As conductor, clinician, and composer, Curnow has traveled
throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia,
where his music has received wide acclaim. His awards for band
compsitions include the American School Band Directors
Association Volkwein Award in 1977 (Symphonic Triptych)
and 1979 (Collage for Band), the American Bandmasters
Association Ostwald Award in 1980 (Mutanza) and 1984
(Symphonic Variants for Euphonium and Band), the 1985 Sixth
International Competition for Original Compositions for Band
(Australian Variant Suite) sponsored by the Cassa di Risparmo
di Perugia of Corciano, Italy, and has recieved annual ASCAP awards
for significant contributions to the band literature of America since
1979. He has also recieved a Stae Council for the Arts grant as
composer in the school in Kentucky and has been commissioned to
compose over 60 works for band and various ensembles. Mr.
Curnow’s published works now number over 200.

James Curnow is currently a resident of Stone Mountain,
Georgia, where he composes and arranges full time and is an
educational consultant for Jenson Publications Corporation.